Wednesday, 24 December 2014

*WARNING: This post includes grossly soppy phrases such as 'Wouldn't be the person I am today', 'Strength', 'I am brave' and therefore this is the most cringefest post ever.*

Well I am currently sat curled up on my bed eating Christmas biscuits, listening to some soppy music, sipping tea and blogging having just finished my last working day of 2014 (Okay well I was when I wrote that sentence but I didn't finish my blog post in time so this is now a day later I am posting). Never ever ever ever this time last year could I have visioned I'd open a blog post with a statement like that. Well, obviously the first half was gonna happen but the whole working thing was a shock. I want this to be the last blog post of 2014 and I have an awful lot to say so it's a long one. Please don't feel like you have to read it. OH I really need to stop telling people to stop reading my blog... But yeah this is gonna get soppy so if you're not the sentimental crap type, the exits over there on the red cross in the corner.

SO let's start off with reading this post - The Final Confessions of 2013 - Okay if you can't be arsed to read it, to summarize the end of 2013 sucked like no end of year ever before, I was well and truly ready to forget 2013 existed and I was freaking out because I didn't know where I'd be in a years time. Oh if only time machines existed, I'd go back and be like 'CHILL YOUR BEANS, YOU'RE GONNA BE EVEN BETTER THAN OKAY!'.

Then a few days later I got drunk, fell through a door and produced this blog post - Happy New Year (Real original title I know) - First of all, how embarrassing is it that I opened the first blog post of 2014 with a story of me drunk and making an arse of myself? I swear to spare you from such monstrosities in 2015...that's a total lie I love it and drunk sharing is caring. So back to the point, I wrote this post on how I wanted to set myself some goals for 2014. Without sounding toooo much like an obnoxious git, I well and truly smashed those goals as seen below:

Don't you just read those 3 bullet points and think 'N'aaaaw', wasn't I cute?

Growing My Blog

This has to be the biggest one of all. A year ago my blog was this measly little rambling piece of internet and it now ranks as one of the Top 10 Student Lifestyle Blogs, has worked with major brands such as Cadbury, Logitech and House of Fraser, is viewed from all over the world, more than doubled in daily views and is supported by so many incredibly wonderful people online and offline. I never envisioned that within a year my entire life would change thanks to this tiny corner of the internet. I feel beyond lucky and blessed that I did what I did best and stumbled head first into it. I achieved all of this in just 1 year and all I can say is I can't wait to see what I can do in another year!

Get Employed

I remember writing that bullet point so halfheartedly and thinking 'Not an ice cubes chance in hell'. I checked Time Hop this morning (That app you love and hate because it makes you resent anything you ever did on Facebook and Twitter along with any outfit and hairstyle you opted for) and I had just been rejected by a job I thought was THE dream job on Christmas Eve. I had posted how it was the final straw for what had been a rough time and was slowly losing all hope. Firstly I wish to go back and slap my total apparent emo self for moping online and secondly to be like IT'S ALL GONNA BE OKAY. It may have taken months and months and months and hundreds and hundreds of applications and a summer of being the Kennel Queen/Dog Whisperer again but I landed a wonderful/perfect/dream job in October. I couldn't be happier nor more proud of myself for staying with my dreams and pursuing something when so many people told me I was never going to achieve. I even took some stupid risks that at the time everyone told me I was mad but now realise it was a good thing. Go risk taking me!

Be Brave

This was one is my best. Without the violins and the sympathy, I left 2013 rather broken. *WARNING THIS REALLY IS GOING TO BE CHEESY*. I felt like I was really on rock bottom and someone needed to come and scrape me off the floor. And then I realised no one was coming to save me and I needed to do this myself. So I decided I was becoming my own hero. I had zero confidence, no self belief and no hope. Yet I sit here now feeling strong, loving who I am, loving my life and feeling quite unstoppable. Most importantly I feel brave. I'd say 80% of all of that came from this blog. I started 2014 with this blog as my biggest and deepest secret. By summer 2014 I fell out of the blogging closet with a bump and now all of my friends and family are aware this exists. This blog has changed my life in so many ways and it is the best thing I have ever done with my life. It made me brave and excited about challenges and changes. It made the people around me sit up and take notice of what I had become and it made me realise I am absolutely insane. We're all winners here.

Okay if you are STILL reading this blog post then WOW I respect you because even I am vomming after that last paragraph. I wanted to dedicate this post to a fewwwww people who have played a major role in this blogs success over the past year so here it goes:

Cision - For getting in touch and informing me of my blogs ranking. They have driven so much to my blog since and I don't ever think there is a way I could repay them!

Fanny Crown - the first real outreach to cross this blog and it was probably one of the best. Winning a tailor made Parisian dress and getting to wear it on one of the loveliest days of my life with my favourite people was an amazing opportunity that wouldn't have happened without Fanny Crown!

Student Life - For taking me on as Lifestyle Editor and Social Media Manager and therefore giving me the boost, confidence and experience to get here.

My friends - if they're reading this which some of them tell me they do, thanks for not laughing me out of town when you found out and actually telling me you were proud of me.

All the loyal readers who regularly keep up to date with my blog and keep me motivated even when I can't be arsed/felt like giving up. To name a few I suggest you check them out

Okay I am gonna draw this to a close as it's so awkward and soppy and you're all probably cringing yourselves inside out. I wanted to say a HUUUUUUGE thank you to anyone who has ever read, commented and followed my blog. Y'all are the best and the main reason I do this. It takes a lot for someone to willingly and openly bare all on the internet (okay not that kind of baring all you dirty minded people). I have so much respect to all the bloggers who will so openly expose their lifestyles for the entertainment, inspiration and caring of others. Like I always say, if you have ever debated blogging, don't hesitate for a second longer, you just never know where it will take you.

I think that's enough soppy writing so I am going to end with one more funny story and one more wording of wisdom. My funny story is I had my work Christmas party at my new job and I may or may have not drunkenly performed some terrible renditions of Beyonce and Taylor Swift which I can no longer live down in the office. It makes this scene below from Bridget Jones look like the winning performance of X Factor

and lastly, have a wonderful Christmas and fantastic New Year, I wish you all a world of success and happiness in 2015!

Sunday, 14 December 2014

I haven't actually said Happy Christmas on my blog yet this year. How rude of me, HAPPY CHRISTMAS. Do expect some soppy crap coming up on the blog over December because it's that sentimental time of year where we all declare it's been a tough one (which it totally has) and that next year is gonna be our year (which it totally will). But before those, I HAVE to remake one particular blog post. So here it goes:

So, last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away...sorry couldn't resist, Betcha got Wham stuck in your head now, sorry not sorry. Last Christmas I wrote this post on the Best Christmas Movies. WAIT before you click the link, you need to be aware back then I had only been blogging for about 6 months so my blogging skills weren't the happy-crazy-random-funny-insane-why-do-you-still-read-this-blog standard that they are today! I reread it a few weeks ago and thought 'Really Laura, did you think that justified those Christmas movies you love so much?'. Okay go and click the link now if you really must.

You're back? Did you cringe yourself inside out at that crap blog post? Me too. So here it goes, The Ultimate Christmas Movies - REMAKE INTO SOMETHING MUCH BETTER

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton you amazing piece of crazy ass genius. That's all I can say. Okay obviously I am gonna say more. I never know whether to watch this film at Halloween or at Christmas or in between, IT'S TOO HARD TO DECIDE. So many feels. But yeah, this movie is weirdly wonderful like the majority of Tim Burton's movies. I love his style and as I mentioned in that other post, I love how Tim Burton movies and Danny Elfman's music go hand in hand.

2. The Grinch

I still stand by the story of how terrified I was to actually see this film and that my mum dragged me along and I fell in love with it. I still do this day believe Jim Carrey Deserves an Oscar for his performance. It also produced the fantastic gif above which is a second favourite gif for this blog. That alone justifies why it is a fantastic Christmas movie. This is also the film that made me realise when I was small and had frizzy hair and chubby cheeks, I looked like a Who from Whoville. Seriously, I could have doubled as Cindy Lou. I'll leave you with that thought...

3. Die Hard

This HAS to be the MOST underrated Christmas movie of all time. I LOVE (I think I need to calm down) this movie. Christmas is not Christmas without Bruce Willis, a burning skyscraper and loads of quotable lines like 'Yippy-ki-yay' and 'Ho-Ho-Ho now I have a machine gun'. WHICH by the way you can buy as a Christmas jumper and I really want to but no one will get the reference and just think I am a homicidal maniac (Well, if they didn't already then this would totally confirm it). So your Christmas mission my fellow bloggers is to watch Die Hard and have your minds blown. OH and watch the transition of Bruce Willis's vest top go from a shade of Daz White to Khaki Green/Brown. Hilar.

4. Home Alone

Yeah this is the film that traumatized us all as children and is now why none of use can stand being home alone...particularly at Christmas. It's also the film that made us all realise how much we want to be home alone as kids so we could do stupid things like eat as much crap as possible, watch TV we weren't allowed to as kids and raid our siblings bedrooms/slightly destroy them. We watched with our keen little eyes as Kevin lived our dreams. You go Kevin!!

5. Elf

This is pretty much the winner as far as Christmas movies go. I was sat in the hairdressers this weekend and we both just sat their quoting Elf to each other and laughing our heads off. It's so hard not to scream SANTAAAAA when anyone says 'Santa is coming' around Christmas. This confirms to me I have the mental age of my nephew. Totaaally cool with that.

*PLOT TWIST*

Christmas Movies That Aren't Christmas Movies That Totally Should Be Christmas Movies

Yeah you didn't see that coming did you? I had to get these movies in here as I always watch them around Christmas time even though they're not specifically Christmas movies. So here it goes:

Mean Girls

Like this EVEN needs explaining. From the whole Candy Cane 'Four for you Glen Coco, YOU GO GLEN COCO' to THAT Jingle Bell Rock scene, this film was just designed for Christmas. Yes Christmas in the movie probably only last about 15 minutes but still, it's too good of a film to not be mentioned.

Bridget Jones

Okay don't even pretend to be surprised that I brought this film into it. I watched it last weekend (shock I know) and it just never ever fails to make me laugh/cry/remind me of my future. Scarily when I watched it last weekend I never felt more like Bridget Jones then I do now. It's like over night someone switched me with her. I feel more and more like this each year, I swear all I am missing is the big pants. Probably not far off it though.... why did I just write that to the internet. But seriously, a couple of nights ago I had some classic cheesy girl pop on and I was singing into my phone (cause modern day girls use their phones as mics instead of hairbrushes JEEZ) in the mirror wearing my Christmas pjs and after a few amazing X Factor worthy solos I realised I was basically the above gif. FOR REAL.

Disney

Christmas is the one time of year where it is 100% acceptable to sit around all day watching Disney movies and no one can question it or your mental age. A few Christmas faves have to be 101 Dalmations (Cute lost little puppies lost in the snow alert!) and Lady and The Tramp because Christmas is a dominant feature in that film too. I just noticed how both of these films are dog based...cray cray dog lady alert say what.

Okay there we have it, a slight improvement on last years post. PLEASE tell me what Christmas movies YOU love so I can binge on them all Christmas. No doubt I will reread this post next year and think 'What on earth was I thinking with talks of whoville, Bruce Willis's vest top and owning Bridget Jones pants' and completely redo it. But anyways, if you're still reading this sentence then go have a massive piece of cake for putting yourself through such a post of overused gifs.

Saturday, 13 December 2014

Firstly, I just want you guys to know I totally have my blogging mojo back. Like I got over the whole 'I can't be dealing with blogging right now' attitude and got back on the horse! Or the bike?! What's the saying? I don't even know. But BOOM I am here, I know I know, calm yourselves with your excitement. Try not break the internet.

How exciting is this post for you?! This is the official first ever giveaway on The Confessions Of A Professional Drama Queen (Seriously, why did I choose such a long and insane blog name I don't know). It is my massive Christmas present to you all for being so wonderful and actually wasting your lives reading the insane stuff I write. And what a way to start, I mean two of favourite things, House Of Fraser and Cocktails. Spoiling. You. Guys. If you don't like cocktails you probably don't belong here on this blog. I mean, this blog is built on a foundation of cake, handbag and cocktail fueled antics.....I really have a special way of selling myself right?!

Just a small insight from Instagram from my cocktail based lifestlye

House Of Fraser Home got in touch to giveaway this wonderful Luxe Lounge 6 Piece Mini Martini Set for Christmas. I believe no Christmas is complete without cocktails. I mean, who doesn't love a good Cosmo or Martini on Christmas day?! Every Christmas I turn into a bar-lady and whip out the cocktail shaker and get creative with the spirits before I get too drunk and cocktail goes everywhere which rarely happens I promise. With this set you get all the utensils you could possibly need to get you and your family/friends merry in style at Christmas, including a little recipe book!....Not that I am encouraging irresponsible and reckless drinking over the festive period (It's more of a nudge than an encouragement). I don't want to brag or anything but I am a bit of a pro with making cosmopolitans. Bet you all wish you were round and Drama Queen Bar on Christmas day right???

So what are you waiting for, go go go go enter and let's hope Santa brings you cocktail fueled fun for Christmas! Good luck!

Sunday, 7 December 2014

I have this brilliant picture from years ago that I am dying to use on a blog post. It was a winters night and I had been on a student night out. It had snowed so it was pretty darn cold and therefore we came home early after realising cheap alcohol and sticky clubs were not worth the sub zero temperature and promise of hypothermia. I decided to remove my tights in the living room (Yes I had worn tights as I am sensible like that). I completely slipped in the process and fell over, tights half off. My housemate caught the whole thing on camera and so I have a spectacular photo of myself lay on the floor laughing my head off with a pair of tights in the air. I mean, does that not just sum up this whole blog in a nutshell?! However I don't think it's quite professional to publicly air such a photo so I shall save it for another day...

Anyway, I wanted kick off the festive fun on my blog as we're finally in December! No shit Sherlock I know but yeah there you go. I reread my Christmas movies blog post from last year and lolled my socks off. I was quite the blogger back then...not. I will be expanding on that in a week or so but yeah lets kick off the festive fun by blogging about how much of walking disaster I am, seasonal style! I mean, you know how I cock up on a regular basis? Well if you don't you're clearly are new here. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I make Bridget Jones look like as graceful as Kate Middleton. Yehuh. So here is how I do this during the festive season:

Blogging

I could have approached my first Christmas post by blogging the crap out of a seasonal Yankee candle or Starbucks cup but instead I happily take the piss out of all of my flaws for the entertainment of my blog readers. I could also take picturesque photos of Christmas decorations and trees or frosty mornings and festive activities but no, I stick a woolly hat on my laptop and call it blog content. Enjoy.

Shopping

This is probably the biggest fail of all. We're about 2 and a half weeks away from Christmas and within the past 3 weeks I have spent more money on myself then anyone else. From Michael Kors handbags (to add to my already massive collection) to pretty dresses to designer coats. I HAVE A PROBLEM PEOPLE. Every time I go out with the intention to buy Christmas presents I come home with a new outfit and no Christmas presents. Santa mate, you're gonna have to get off your arse and take over for me this year.

Clothes

Me and the girls at work have spent weeks discussing Christmas party outfits. Obviously as it is Christmas you want to get that extra special dress for the occasion. I have been in every, and I am not exaggerating (really I am not), every high street store ever and I cannot find a dress! According to British Christmas fashion this year it's either go as a sparkly porn star or a velvet sausage in a midi dress. I mean, without sounding too much like your mother, is it possible to buy a dress that doesn't partake as a top or a belt?! I want length and sophistication people! When I am stumbling all over the shop smashed out my face I want to look classy as I do it!

General Accidents

I am on top form this year I must admit. I am not that clumsy normally but I seem to be particularly outdoing myself this year. I am like Bambi on ice. This week I slipped down the office stairs (cringe for me), tripped up on my way home from work and the best was last night when I drunkenly stumbled home on the phone to my friend and walked into a car. And not just a small car, I mean a full on big ass white Nissan Juke. I proceeded to rant to my friend about how outrageous it was that there was a car in my way. How I woke up in my own bed this morning I just don't know. Let's just say, as soon as the proper snow and ice hits, I can predict an over night stay in A&E for sure...

Marketing

I am such a sucker for a pretty Christmas advert or product. I bought a tin of M&S shortbread biscuits today purely because the tin had a scotty dog on it. If that's not an easy sell I don't know what is. I am defintiely the person John Lewis aims all their Christmas crap at because I fall for it everytime.

And there we have it, the many ways I fail at Christmas. I wanted to hear your biggest Christmas fails and get a whole Christmas failure discussion going so shout if you too can cock up like no other. If I am honest I have really held back. I could have told you about the great Christmas holidays of 2012 when I spent a good 7 days being drunk, destroying the family Christmas tree and bringing disgrace to the family name. What can I say, it's a none stop festive party when I am about. Promise I have matured a little since then...

And in the words of Miranda Lambert:

'Run and hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady' - working on it!

Sunday, 30 November 2014

It's been over a week since I last posted and that suuuuuuuucks more than the human race on Black Friday. Soz had to get that little dig in there to all you lunatics that make me question humanity. But in all seriousness, I am soooooo rubbish at this blogging shindig of recent. I realised this week I have a real bad dose of bloggers/writers block *cries*. I am just feeling so uninspired. The past 2 weeks I have written 4 drafts of different blog posts and gave up half way through each one and left feeling so underwhelmed about posting them. Really it's nothing to worry about, it's happened before and I almost nearly quit once (Lolz let's not talk about that dark moment). Every blogger at some point faces this and it's just a waiting game for it to pass.

I find with blogging, the more you get involved or sucked into the bloggingsphere, the harder you find the pressure pushes down on you *Que Queen & Bowie singing Under Pressure*. As much as we say we don't, we consistently compare ourselves to the other bloggers who have better layouts, better content, better photos etc etc. It can put such a blow in your blogging mojo. We all have that one blogger that inspires us and is our favourite go-to blog that you just can't help sitting there wide eyed and envious of. Not to say that it's a bad thing, I find that the more I am inspired/envious of a blog the more it pushes me to work harder with my own. I have definitely noticed huge improvements in The Confessions Of A Professional Drama Queen over the past 12 months because of my drive to be just as good as the next blogger. So really, it isn't just doom and gloom with blog envy so don't beat yourselves up about it as I have seen many of you do!

There are other woes to blogging that get to me though. This is one in particular I want to call out a lot but as so rightly stated by Joelle from Feb Girl and her amazing post on Blogsploitation, calling out on your issues with PR can make you feel as though you could be exiled for life never to be contacted by PR again. I have found recently a major player getting to me is bad outreach from PR or companies doing it solo. Recently one man in particular consistently sent me press releases in a tone of 'Here are the details and photos, post them on your blog'. I tend to completely ignore these impersonal emails which only made him send more and more. It got to the point where I emailed him and told him (politely I promise) that it wasn't relevant to me. He then proceeded to email me with arsey messages as though it was an outrage that I refused to post about HIS clients on MY blog. Outstanding sir, really you are. Another company also contacted me asking me to attend a venue. They booked me into a date and then never replied to confirm (well, until after to ask how I found it) or offered compensation for my efforts and willingness to collaborate. Needless to say I never went nor spoke to them again

I get so many useless emails a day now from insensitive and clueless PR assuming I'm an idiot and will post whatever crap they send my way. The best one I recently got was a '7 Signs You Need A Dating Coach'.....fantastic. Me and my boys Ben & Jerry are doing JUST fine by ourselves thank you very much.

My other beef with blogging is the, and brace yourselves because my claws are coming out, the superiority that some bloggers hold. And I feel like blogging about this will bring me loads of abuse and judgement from bloggers. When I started blogging I completely underestimated how huge the blogging industry is. And with this, I was ignorant. I knew nothing and in a way and like they do say, ignorance is bliss. I just stumbled along posting whatever and whenever I felt like it. However the bigger this blog got, the more I worked with PR and the more I was sucked into the blogging 'community', I noticed blogging has felt more like a chore then a creative hobby. I am not saying I don't still love it it because honestly I still swear it was the best thing I ever did but now I feel there are all these rules and regulations I am restricted by.

You see bloggers posting indirect tweets about certain bloggers doing certain things like immature high school girls, you see extremely influential bloggers imposing their views as though their way goes, you see bloggers attacking other bloggers for and referring to them as 'big' or 'small' bloggers and you just get plain rude bloggers who make no effort with those readers engaging with them. Sometimes I feel so outside of the blogging world and I am glad because like all sectors of life, people can be so mean.

If you want to post your opinion whether it's a bad review on a most popular make up brand that everyone else loves then do it. If you want to add gifs and memes to your blog instead of feeling pressurized to have beautiful photos, do it. If you want to class yourself as a full time blogger even if you've only been blogging for a few months then do it. Ignore what everyone else is doing and go with what feels good to you. Ignore the 'Bloggers shouldn't do this' tweets and do what ever the hell you want. It's your blog and therefore it's your rules. I saw one girl give a bad review on Zoella's beauty range and the amount of abuse she got was horrendous. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and if you disagree with a product review then turn away. What's the worse that will happen, you'll suddenly develop an allergy to your keyboard for not responding with negativity?!

Well I don't know about you but I actually feel a lot better getting all of that off my chest. Maybe this will help inspire me again. I would really love to hear your thoughts on all of this because it definitely makes me feel better when bloggers tell me they feel the same.

Saturday, 22 November 2014

First of all, I am not even gonna mention my lack of presence in the blogging world. Second of all, this blog post is a complete U-Turn from my original Saturday post. I had this whole post written, it was pretty heavy. Okay not heavy but it was one of those ones where I share my thoughts on worldly issues and you all run away screaming at my lack of understanding and general no clue approach to life.

I thought I'd do an Autumn Antics Part 2 post because it feels appropriate (You can read Autumn Antics Part 1 here). I have to warn you this post may make you want to vom on your laptop because it could possibly get soppy. I am in a bit of a soppy mood at the moment, soz.

I have fallen completely in love with Autumn. I just never want it to end. I don't know what it is with autumn light but everything just looks that little bit more special wherever you're heading. Even my walk to the train station in the morning just feels a little bit more magical. The walk home not so much because it's pitch black so I have a constant feeling I am going to be murdered OR I fall off the pavement because I can't see where I am going in the dark. All I am saying is it's a bloody good job it's pitch black so no one can see me tripping around. But even in the dark and the rain and I am tuned away to my iPod, I am still grinning all the way. Someone just slap me out of this.

I've just had the most perfect morning that I wanted to blog about it. I'm one of those people now. The ones who blog about their daily lives instead of consistently trying to highlight to the internet that they're completely bonkers. Scary I know.

So anyways, my bestie and myself took my new car out for a little ride to a local park that in my 22 years of living near to I had no idea existed - see, told you I was blind. It was such a beautiful walk around a huuuuge lake filled with ducks and Herons (Well, I think they were, but I know eff all about birds). Everything looked like it belonged on a Christmas card or a calender. Like seriously, Autumn just makes me want to instagram the crap out of everything take pictures of everything.

(Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the coat I am wearing by White Stuff as it was THE most expensive coat I have ever bought, which I shouldn't have as I bought it the day after I bought a new car. Someone just remove my bank card now)

That bird was definitely loving selfies more than I do. He was all 'ooo get my best side girl'.

Autumn/Winter walks are one of my favourite things to do. I love visiting parks etc and walking over miles of fields and forests. Everything, like I keep saying, is just so instagramable beautiful, it really is refreshing.

I swear at this moment in time I am walking around with a disneyesque view. Everything is so la-de-da and I can't stop grinning like an arse. I find I get my train home at night and my face hurts from smiling. It's just so nice to be feeling so happy. And I reaaaally dislike those people who tweet and write Facebook statuses about how happy they are all the time but sadly I am turning into one. Oops.

And of course, the perfect morning was completed with cake. This is me after all, when is there cake not involved? I also have to shout out to my bestie because it was at this moment she handed me my birthday present in a white envelope. I couldn't think of what it would be but to my surprise she is taking me to see Wicked next year! I really am spoiled! I couldn't ask for a better friend. We've known each other since we were 13 and we've been unstoppable ever since. Even up until today, every time we see each other we just chat none stop about what's going on in our lives and how we still laugh at the same old things. I can tell her some stupid thing I did or said this week and she'll totally get it and laugh with me....not at me people!

And I'll end this post now before it really gets soppy. Don't you just hate how gooey I am being? I need to get a hold of myself as I don't know where this is coming from. This so unlike me. I'm pretty sure I am due a catastrophe somewhere soon as that is after all what the foundations of this blog is built on - my inability to function as a normal human being.

If you have any autumn blog posts going please throw them my way so I can swoon with you. I'd also love to know what is your favourite part about Autumn?

Saturday, 15 November 2014

It has been MONTHS since I did a ramble post. I know you loved reading them as much as I did writing them so in true Drama Queen style, here is the first ramble of my non student life. Try not to wee yourselves with the excitement! And seriously, what the hell would this blog be without some frustrated rambling. I am pretty sure the only reason I started blogging was so I could rant to the internet. That is a total lie, I am so kidding... not

Before you proceed I have to warn you this post if full of extra crazy (if such a thing is possible).

1. British Rail Travel

Just the title of this section kinda says it all. But if you live outside of Britain OR you're fortunate enough to NOT have to experience rail travel at rush hour, then I'll break it down for you. British rail travel SUCKS. The end. No but in all seriousness, I have been at my job 4 weeks so that's 20 mornings right? (my maths is crap, I am asking you in seriousness??....kidding....) Out of those 20 mornings only TWO, yes you read that right, TWO of my trains actually arrived on time. *Round of applause for Northern Rail/Network Rail*. You have NO idea (well you probably do if you rely on British rail travel in rush hour) how mortifying it is when your train is late/or cancelled on your first week at your new job. I am pretty sure the workers of British rail travel couldn't arrange a piss up at a brewery.

2. People on British Rail Travel

This probably applies beyond British rail travel. Please someone tell me WHAT is with those people who stand within 5cm's away from you?! And not even when it's busy. When there's a whole mile of platform to share, they just come and get all bump and grind up in my space. I'm seriously considering investing in an inflatable ball to stand in at platforms. Remember folks, you heard it here first.

3. Bad PR

This one is for my fellow bloggers. I am SICK of PR mooses (it's my new insult okay) emailing me inviting me to events or telling me to post stupid links to their stupid press releases when it is NOTHING to do with my blog OR they assume I am doing it for free. OR they state 'It is something your readers would love to see'. That just makes me arsey. Don't say I don't protect you guys cause I really do. I also wrote about this for my company's site. If you too have experienced such arseness of the blogging world then be my guest and read and tell me what you think - http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/our-bloggers-speak-outreach/

4. Gig Tickets

It a sad day to be a music lover in 2014. Remember the days when you could pay between £10-30 to watch an internationally known successful musician/band/singer?! (If you, don't you're far too young for the internet). I've noticed over the past few years the increasing rise in gig tickets. And I am not just talking £40-£60, I mean well over £100. It's no secret I am a Taylor Swift fan. Don't judge me, she totally got me through my late teens/any encounter I have ever had with the opposite sex. Me and my bestie have paid to see her twice, both at our local arena. We never paid more than £30. The minimum she was charging for this years tour is £60. C'mon Taytay, I love your music, but I don't love it THAT much. I can perform my own live 'boys are mean' concert for free to my dog in my bedroom thanks.

5. Aggressive Christmas Shoppers

So yeah today I was in Marks & Spencers and I forgot I wanted a drink when we'd reached the till. Now let me just paint you a picture here, it's around 5-6 weeks until Christmas? So naturally the world has gone mad and people are shopping like they're preparing for an apocalypse. Most of the store is standing room only. So anyway, I quickly dashed through the store to the drink isle when this woman and her child were blocking the main isle. I am a polite person. In fact, to say that is an understatement. I am far too nice, I am consistently told this and that it will get me no where in life. So I am stood there being all awkward/British and nice and polite like 'Excuse me, do you mind if I squeeze past'. This goes on for a good minute and this woman is screaming at her child to listen to me and move. So it gets the point where I am like, screw this, and I just squeeze past them. This for some odd reason infuriates this woman even more to the point where she starts directing her anger at me instead of her child. I would love to tell you what she said but I just walked off as I am not going to be the blow of someones bad day. I am sorry people but there is no reason for Christmas shopping rage at all.

6. Britain's Crap Ability To Drive

Yeah you know who you are. If you are one of those crap people that doesn't indicate on roundabouts or can't even effing use a roundabout GET OFF MY BLOG. Every Friday I am in a mad rush home from work to get changed into my dance gear and head out for my dance class. Every Friday some arse either cuts me up on the same roundabout or doesn't even indicate and drives anyway. MORONS. I actually got so angry this week I tailgated someone in a white Nissan Juke for a good 5 minutes until I nearly missed my turn off. I swear one of these days I will actually tailgate someone home just to scream at them for cutting me up/not using their indicators. You have been warned you arses. I mean I am a bad driver but at least I am aware of it. When I honk my horn and swear until I turn blue these people genuinely look shocked at their inability to drive.

So my keyboard nearly exploded with that rant. I wanted to end this post with 2 none frustrated ramblings (Controversial I know) so here it goes:

1. I just bought my first ever car

He is a black Ford Fiesta with more gadgets then the Batmobile. I have always wanted a black car because I wanted to look like batman I want to look serious business so all those morons that cut me up on roundabouts get scared when I start tailgating them home. I've named him Beasty because he looks so fierce and his colour is classed as 'Panther Black'. Or his other nickname will be Cakemobile because I guarantee 90% of his trips will be used to head to cake suppliers to feed my cravings/obsession. I hope we'll be very happy together. And does that mean I have taken my first steps in being a full grown adult?! I mean I actually own 4 wheels. I am so an adult, right???? Right??!

2. Taylor Swifts New Album

Okay I know I just ranted about her gig tickets but I just can't get over her new album. I am a bit touch and go with some of the songs but I LOVE and I mean LOVE 'Blank Space'. My favourite lyrics have to be 'I can make the bad guys good for a weekend' and 'I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream'. They crack me up every time I hear it. Plus the video is pretty much how every girl has ever felt. Also I recommend listening to 'Style'. The chorus makes me melt.

And from this post we have concluded that I am Wednesday Addams

.

Wow if you made it to the end of this post. I mean seriously, you were actually interested in reading this. I am surprised. Kudos to you. If you have any rants/rambles/general musings, please please please please get off my blog because I don't care. No no no I am totally kidding! I really want to hear them so I don't feel like the only mental woman on this planet.

Sunday, 9 November 2014

Are we all laughing at my 'I will be blogging twice a week' statement and how it didn't even last for a week? Fab. I wont even say sorry as it is probably going to continue like this from now until Christmas! November is always a busy month because of my birthday and seeing family and friends and now with a full time job it's even busier. I said this in my last post but I am just love love loving this time of year. Even though I am busy, I am busy in a great way! Unfortunately my blog is paying the consequences, sorry blog.

I am writing this at the end of what has been a wonderful weekend. I started the birthday celebrations a few days early with my old housemates coming up to Manchester to stay. It was like the 5 month gap since we last saw each other hadn't existed and we were back in York, chatting away and thinking we were even more hilarious as ever. It was so sad to part ways again at the train station after an amazing weekend.

I was definitely spoiled by them with their birthday presents. Yes okay I know my birthday isn't until the 12th but I could NOT wait that long to open them. My bad.

Knowing my ever so well, they spoiled me with pretty gifts for my room, Benefit make up, OPI Coca Cola nail varnish, Cath Kidston treats, a beautiful Russian mug and a lovely photo of us. I am so excited to get stuck into the Benefit goodies, particularly the Pore Professional primer as I have heard non-stop good reviews! One of my hosuemates works for Benefit so I insisted she did my make up for the rest of the weekend. Gotta take advantage of the perks ey?

On our fun weekend we went shopping to Manchester and I seized the opportunity to blow my wages. Desperate for a pair of cleated heeled Chelsea boots, a trip to Office was a must. They had a 30% offer on Boots so it was a difficult decision/fate that I buy boots there and then. I had the poor shop assistant running back and forth trying to find me different boots in my size. I am pretty sure it was a huge relief for her once I had chosen a pair and left the store.

There was the awkward moment when my foot got stuck in a boot because of a dodgy zip and I couldn't get out and I had not one but two shop assistants trying to force the zip down/pull me out of the shoe. Seriously, wherever I go I am making a scene...

I also made a cheeky purchase of a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Bronzer. I have been DESPERATE for one of these for months. I finally cracked and headed to Bobbi Brown in House Of Fraser. I asked the make up assistant if she could test the 'Beige' shade out on me before I made the purchase. At first it was all good, she applied the shimmer brick to my cheeks and I was looking all high and defined. THEN she asked what shade of blush I wear with my bronzer. I don't tend to wear blush with bronzer as I feel it makes me look too red cheeked/like a clown. So in response she whipped out the brightest shade of pink I had EVER seen as a blush, I am gonna go with Barbie pink as the only way of describing it, and applied it all over my cheeks. I looked like I had been slapped by a clown. I couldn't even show how embarrassed I was as the blush covered any form of expression on my face. I had to pretend to love it, purchase the shimmer brick and make a dash to a toilet to clean my cheeks. For the rest of the afternoon I was walking around Manchester with a permanent look of shame. Thank you very much miss make up assistant.

That's the first and last time I use a make-up counter assistant to do my make up I am telling you.

So yeah, cause you care so much about my existence, there is my pre-birthday weekend treat post. I am just going to be honest with you and say don't expect another blog post until next weekend as I have a mega busy week with it being my birthday on Wednesday the 12th of November (Had I mentioned that yet???). But I promise to come back with more exciting posts for you. I mean, not that it gets much more exciting then this ;)

But if you seriously DO miss me, which I guess you probably do, you can keep up to date with my on Twitter and Instagram.